Gerry Dulac's NFL Forecast: Week 11

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The Skinny: Of all the surprises last weekend, including two winless teams getting their first victory, there might not have been any bigger than the Rams whacking the Colts in Lucas Oil Stadium. The Colts, after all, own victories over arguably the three best teams in the league – Broncos, Seahawks, 49ers. Of course, the Titans own a victory against the Rams, having beaten them just two weeks ago.

Prediction: Colts, 27-21

SUNDAY

Detroit Lions (6-3) at Steelers (3-5), 1 p.m.

The Skinny: The Lions don’t have much of a track record against the Steelers, especially on the road where they’ve lost the past eight games in Pittsburgh. But the Lions have two in a row and lead the NFC North division. What's more, they throw the ball a lot better than the Buffalo Bills.

Prediction: Lions, 24-20

Cleveland Browns (4-5) at Cincinnati Bengals (6-4), 1 p.m.

The Skinny: The Browns can take a major step toward – and perhaps beyond – respectability if they can beat the Bengals and move within a half-game of the division lead. They’ve won the past two meetings with their intra-state rival and a victory would match their 2012 total. But….

Prediction: Bengals, 23-16

New York Jets (5-4) at Buffalo Bills (3-7), 1 p.m.

The Skinny: If the Jets follow their pattern of win-one, lose-one, they are due to lose against the Bills. But, after beating the Saints and getting a bye week, the Jets should be ready to disrupt that streak. The plus side of that streak, though, includes a victory against the Bills in Week 3.

Prediction: Jets, 26-17

Baltimore Ravens (4-5) at Chicago Bears (5-4), 1 p.m.

The Skinny: The Ravens needed a prayer after being victimized by the Hail Mary pass against the Bengals, and it was answered with an overtime victory that kept them relevant in the AFC North. The Bears will need a prayer without Jay Cutler, who is injured again.

Prediction: Ravens, 19-16

Oakland Raiders (3-6) at Houston Texans (2-7), 1 p.m.

The Skinny: After winning their first two games, the Texans are now proud owner of the longest losing streak in the NFL – seven in a row. No wonder Ed Reed said they were outcoached in Arizona. Since beating the Steelers, the Raiders have lost two in a row.

Prediction: Texans, 24-14

Arizona Cardinals (5-4) at Jacksonville Jaguars (1-8), 1 p.m.

The Skinny: After losing their first eight games, the Jaguars finally ended their streak with a victory in Tennessee. The Cardinals have won two in a row, and they are doing it with defense. But they don’t appear to travel well: They are 1-3 on the road.

Prediction: Cardinals, 23-16

Washington Redskins (3-6) at Philadelphia Eagles (5-5), 1 p.m.

The Skinny: There are more leaks in the Redskins defense than the Watergate hotel. They have allowed an NFC-high 287 points after coughing up 34 to Minnesota, matching the Vikings’ season high. In the past two games, Eagles QB Nick Foles has 10 touchdowns and no interceptions.

Prediction: Eagles, 37-27

Atlanta Falcons (2-7) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-8), 1 p.m.

The Skinny: It would be more than mildly embarrassing for the Falcons, an NFC title game participant in 2012, if they lost to the Buccaneers and dropped to the basement of the NFC South. Tampa Bay knows the area well after beginning the season with eight losses.

Prediction: Buccaneers, 23-20

San Diego Chargers (4-5) at Miami Dolphins (4-5), 4:05 p.m.

The Skinny: This is the fourth eastern-time zone game already this season for the Chargers, who are 2-1 in the other three. The Dolphins probably wish they could escape the eastern time zone and get away from the messy glare heaped upon them by Richie Incognito.

Prediction: Chargers, 24-23

Green Bay Packers (5-4) at New York Giants (3-6), 4:25 p.m.

The Skinny: Only two teams in NFL history have started 0-6 and won their next three games, and the Giants are one of them. The packers could be headed for an extensive losing streak without injured Aaron Rodgers. They are down to Scott Tolzien as the starter.

Prediction: Giants, 30-20

San Francisco 49ers (6-3) at New Orleans Saints (7-2), 4:25 p.m.

The Skinny: In case you missed it, the Saints put up 40 first downs against the Cowboys. The Steelers didn’t get their 40th first down until the third quarter of the third game against the Bears. They might not get half that many against the 49ers. Still…

Prediction: Saints, 21-19

Minnesota Vikings (2-7) at Seattle Seahawks (9-1), 4:25 p.m.

The Skinny: The Vikings have scored a season-high 34 points in each of their two victories this season (Steelers, Redskins). They don’t have to worry about that in Seattle, where the Seahawks are unbeaten and allow an average of 14.2 points per game.

Prediction: Seahawks, 31-13

Kansas City Chiefs (9-0) at Denver Broncos (8-1), 8:30 p.m.

The Skinny: No NFL team has ever scored 371 points in the first nine games of the season. And no quarterback has ever passed for 3,249 yards in the first nine games, either. Not until the Broncos and Peyton Manning, that is. That will all be tested against the Chiefs, who have allowed a league-low 111 points (12.3 average).

Prediction: Broncos, 23-20

MONDAY

New England Patriots (7-2) at Carolina Panthers (6-3), 8:30 p.m.

The Skinny: If a comeback victory in San Francisco wasn’t enough, the Panthers can add to their impressive run if they can beat the Patriots. The Panthers have won five in a row and outscored their opponents, 184-63, in the past six games. The Patriots haven’t played since putting up 55 on the Steelers.

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